as in doubtful
not likely to be true or to occur
in the unlikely event that the file is deleted or corrupted, you will want to have backup copies available
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Recent Examples of unlikely
The staff’s analysis on the charter petition concluded that North Star’s financial and operational plan was unlikely to succeed and that the educational program was unlikely to meet the needs of all students or to be successfully implemented.
—
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
On paper none of it should work, including the risky idea that several comic characters have been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, but this unlikely film is consistently entertaining, weird and ultimately touching.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
The unlikely pairing of Malik and Massoud turned out to be his favorite in the show.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
So that scenario also limits any direct financial benefits, unless the show were to transfer to a for-profit production, a scenario that seems unlikely not least due to Coon’s busy schedule.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
On paper none of it should work, including the risky idea that several comic characters have been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, but this unlikely film is consistently entertaining, weird and ultimately touching.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
The unlikely pairing of Malik and Massoud turned out to be his favorite in the show.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
So that scenario also limits any direct financial benefits, unless the show were to transfer to a for-profit production, a scenario that seems unlikely not least due to Coon’s busy schedule.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlikely
Adjective
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Initially listed as doubtful, the first-round pick is expected to return later this week when Dallas faces the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday and the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, according to Dallas Hoops Journal.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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But industry followers are doubtful that the box office buzz will lead to a strategy shift toward theatrical releases for Netflix.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Many in Hollywood were dubious as to whether Universal and Amblin could reboot the Jurassic franchise for a third time, and birth a new trilogy more than three decades after Steven Spielberg’s dinos first stomped onto the big screen in 1993’s Jurassic Park.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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Besides there being considerable variation in terms of COVID-19 vaccine policy among our peers, which makes claims about alignment dubious, there’s the issue of insurance coverage.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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It was also said to be improbable that a player of Paqueta’s standing would engage in spot fixing due to the risks to his career, his wealth and a lack of interest in gambling.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Much of the cast is underdeveloped; an improbable misunderstanding about Mare’s sexuality is somehow stretched into a multi-episode story line.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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One reason for the lack of attention to the risk of elder abuse is that it is often assumed that tracking and monitoring older family members is lawful, even if perhaps ethically questionable.—
Nina A. Kohn,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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His defense is questionable at times, but his bat makes up for it on a nightly basis.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlikely. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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